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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 6 · Prescribed Duties for Mankind · 19 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 16: King Citraketu Meets the Supreme Lord
6.16.216.16.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.22

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.16.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitAṅgirā and Nārada Muni → King Citraketu

यस्मिन्निदं यतश्चेदं तिष्ठत्यप्येति जायते ।

मृण्मयेष्विव मृज्जातिस्तस्मै ते ब्रह्मणे नम: ॥ २२ ॥

yasminn idaṁ yataś cedaṁ

tiṣṭhaty apyeti jāyate

mṛṇmayeṣv iva mṛj-jātis

tasmai te brahmaṇe namaḥ

Translation

As pots made completely of earth are situated on earth after being created and are transformed into earth again when broken, this cosmic manifestation is caused by the Supreme Brahman, situated in the Supreme Brahman, and annihilated in the same Supreme Brahman. Therefore, since the Supreme Lord is the cause of Brahman, let us offer Him our respectful obeisances.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Is the Shelter of Everything

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord is the cause of the cosmic manifestation, just as earth is the substance from which earthen pots are made.

  2. 2

    The Lord maintains everything after creation. After annihilation, He remains the reservoir of everything.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Lord is also the cause of Brahman. The prayer therefore offers Him respectful obeisances.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Lord is the cause of the cosmic manifestation, He maintains it after creation, and after annihilation the Lord is the reservoir of everything.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Parental grief → Detachment and surrender. A flashback discloses the devotional history behind Vṛtrāsura.

Chapters 14–17 of Canto 6: Citraketu's grief, realization and curse. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 16: King Citraketu Meets the Supreme Lord

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Therefore Nārada Muni advised Citraketu not to lament for his so-called dead son. After hearing instructions from their dead child, Citraketu and his wife could understand that all relationships in this material world are causes of misery.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yasminin whom
  2. idamthis (cosmic manifestation)
  3. yataḥfrom whom
  4. caalso
  5. idamthis (cosmic manifestation)
  6. tiṣṭhatistands
  7. apyetidissolves
  8. jāyateis born
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does remembering that everything depends on the Supreme Lord affect your sense of independence?

Practice

Look at an earthen object or some soil, recall the verse’s comparison, and offer respectful obeisances to the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Is the Shelter of EverythingThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 6.16.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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